Poisoned Hearts

13.

Two weeks after Mirai disappeared, feelings were joyous once more, Gohan was going to start school in the city soon. Everyone was gathered for a congratulatory party. Even Piccolo showed up o the party, though he was only there to give news to Vegeta, who was, once again, off training himself.

Yamcha and Krillen were there with 18, 18 with Bulma and chichi talking, while Goku, Krillen, and Yamcha were off goofing off. Gohan was silent, looking off into the distance, lost in thought.

Gohan turned, smiling slightly at Piccolo as he spoke, floating as he half meditated. “Your brother is off with Trunks…feels like they are fighting again…they have gotten very strong for their ages…”

Gohan chuckled softly, smiling as he looked up at a passing cloud, fighting back the threat of tears. “I know…they are stronger than I was at their age…They will rival my father’s power soon enough…”

“You’re thinking about him again aren’t you?”

Gohan’s eyes widened, then he sighed, closing his eyes, crossing his arms across his chest, trying his hardest to remain calm. He knew his voice betrayed the pain in his heart, but he had to get over this. “Yes…but I’ll forget him soon enough…he’s forgotten me already…”

Piccolo frowned, closing his eyes as he went back to his meditation. “Giving up already…you’ve really changed Gohan.”

Gohan frowned, and turned, walking back into his home. No one noticed him go into the house, and only piccolo could have heard his soft call to the flying nimbus. Sitting on top of the cloud, Gohan flew off, not caring where to. Before he realized anything, he was sitting on the hovering cloud, looking down at the same waterfall that he and Mirai had shared their first tender moments at. The cloud lowered to the ground, allowing Gohan to dismount before it flew away. Gohan’s heart was beating loudly in his ears as he walked up to the slope that went behind the waterfall, leading to the small cave where they had held each other for the first time. His heart was racing as he squeezed into the entrance, taking each slow step, holding his breath, waiting to see the man who still held his heart. Entering into the cavern, Gohan’s eyes swam with tears, his chin lowering to his chest as he turned his head away.

His voice choked, barely making a sound, as he fought to talk, “Mir…Kami…”

The party was called to a stop once they noticed Gohan was gone. Fearing the worst, they all split up, heading out in every direction they could, looking for any sign of the teen. Doing probably the smartest thing he had in a long time, Goku pressed 2 fingers to his forehead, and appeared inside of Vegeta’s training room, and was instantly blasted in the back. Grunting loudly, Goku fell to the ground, the sudden change in gravity too much for him. Vegeta panted as he stood in the same place as he had been, and frowned, moving to turn the gravity off. Wiping his face with a towel, he turned his back to Goku.

“What do you want Kakorot?”

“I was stupid…Gohan’s gone…probably looking for Mirai.”

Goku stayed kneeling on the ground, his head lowered, a tear falling to the floor of the machine. Vegeta snuffed, having gone cold and reclusive once more since Mirai disappeared. “Well he’s not here…and Gohan’s out of luck. A few days ago Mirai came back and left before anyone saw him. He took his jacket and sword and left.”

Goku cursed, actually surprising Vegeta, who had never really heard him curse before. Goku stood up, and grabbed Vegeta’s shoulders, turning him around to face the taller Saiyan. “Vegeta…please…I’ve never really asked of anything from you before…I need your help…I need to find them and get them back together…”

Vegeta frowned, looking irritated. “If you’ll release me, I’ll think about it.” Goku’s hands instantly released Vegeta’s shoulders as he gave him a hopeful and pleading look. Vegeta sighed, walking out of the training room, grumbling. “If this is the Only way I can get rid of you then I’ll help you!”

Goku Cheered as he jumped for joy, falling to the floor as he sat, holding his head as he whimpered a few “ow”s, having hit his head on the roof of the training room.. Vegeta couldn’t help but chuckle. “you moron…” Vegeta hardened as he went inside the Capsule Corp building, changing. “I’m doing this to repay Mirai for the cell games…after this we‘ll be even…”

Goku and Vegeta appeared inside of the waterfall, Goku turning to look around, wincing as he smacked his nose into a low hanging rock. Rubbing his nose he whimpered, stopping as he fallowed Vegeta’s sad gaze. Goku frowned, a tear in his eyes as he watched Gohan kneeling on the ground, sobbing softly, having lost the fight to not start crying.

Goku went to walk to Gohan, but Vegeta raised a hand in Goku’s way, watching. Gohan needed this. Gohan’s voice was soft when he spoke, so full of pain and loss.

“He’s gone…”

“Gohan…son…what do you mean he’s gone?”

“I mean…” Gohan stood up, turning so that they could see the torn jacket in his arms, it was Mirai’s. The floor was covered in lavender hair, though there was no blood or sign of the sword anywhere. “He’s gone…He was here…waiting for me…and I never came…he won’t come back now…He’s never coming back…”

Vegeta turned his back to Gohan, his mind racing. So that’s why he got his jacket and sword then left…

Goku looked down, thinking. Remembering something, his head shot up, hope in his eyes and a smile on his lips. “Piccolo!”

Both Gohan and Goku looked at Goku, Vegeta looking at Goku like he was crazy.

“What about Piccolo?”

“Vegeta! Piccolo was looking for you at the party! He might have news about Mirai!”

“Piccolo?…Why would Piccolo know anything about Mirai?”

“Before I left the lookout, Dende said he would tell us everything he knew if Mirai hurt himself! If he was looking for you, Dende must have sent him!”

“Kakorot…that must be the smartest thing I’ve ever heard you say!”

Gohan Sniffled as he stopped crying, fear in his eyes now. ‘if Mirai hurt himself,’ That was racing in Gohan’s mind now. But why didn’t Piccolo tell him earlier when they spoke? Gohan stood, walking to place his hand on Goku’s shoulder, frowning.

“Alright then…let’s find piccolo…then Mirai.”

Vegeta nodded, placing his hand on Goku’s other shoulder. In a flash, the three of them were gone.

Piccolo never moved from the party, continuing to meditate while the others flew around, searching for Gohan. They would be back, someone would either find Gohan, or Goku would remember to find Vegeta.

Piccolo frowned as his meditation was interrupted by the familiar power levels of the two Saiyans, and one Demi-Saiyan appeared. He opened one eye to glance at them, then changed from his meditating float, to stand on the ground.

“You were waiting for us Nameckian…What news do you have of Mirai?”

Piccolo looked at the sullen Vegeta, frowning at having been, once again, referred to by his race instead of his name. He went to comment on that, but Gohan walked to piccolo, clenching the jacket to his chest, tears in his eyes. Gohan had been forced to grow up at a young age, but he never lost his child-like innocence, something he inherited from Goku. Seeing the pain and worry n Gohan’s eyes, Piccolo couldn’t help but feel sad himself.

“Piccolo…please…is he ok?”

“I…Dende doesn’t know…” Gohan flinched at the news, looking like he had been struck. “All I know…is that Mirai is alive…and living in the north.” Everyone started to relax at the news, even Vegeta looked less upset.

Gohan looked pleadingly up at Piccolo, stepping closer to him. “Please…Piccolo…I need to see him…where is he?”

Piccolo sighed, looking down. “I…don’t know…Dende refuses to spy on him. Or at least he refuses to tell me about what he sees.”

Gohan looked down as he started to walk off, tears in his eyes. “…he…just doesn’t want to see me again…I’ll only remind him of his pain.”

Piccolo frowned, growing irritated. Vegeta’s mind was racing, thinking of how he could force Dende to spill, but before he could finish that thought, another came to his mind. Something so simple, he almost didn’t believe he didn’t think of it before.

“Why the hell didn’t I think of this before?”

Goku looked at Vegeta, staring at him like he was mad, Gohan only stopped, listening.

“Uh…Vegeta?”

“Not now Kakorot! Piccolo…You use to be the guardian of this planet…Can you still see everyone from up there like you could as Kami?”

Piccolo chuckled softly. “it wouldn’t hurt…to try I mean…But…I promised Dende I wouldn’t-”

Before piccolo could finish, before the jacket that slipped from the stunned Gohan’s arms hit the ground, Gohan was pressing Piccolo against a tree, his voice dangerous as he glared at Piccolo, making him more than slightly nervous.

“Piccolo…now…”

Piccolo nodded, and Gohan released him. Even Vegeta was surprised at Gohan’s actions. Gohan’s eyes were dark, He had a way to get to Mirai now, and nothing would stand in his way.